(1 of )Raymond Foakes (PD FILE, 2006)

(2 of )Raymond Foakes (PD FILE, 2006)

Former head of Sonoma Hells Angels sent to prison for mortgage fraud

A former president of the Sonoma Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to five years and 10 months in prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud scheme.

Raymond Foakes, 48, of Rohnert Park signed his name to fraudulent documents in order to secure mortgage loans for a Santa Rosa home that was then used to grow marijuana, United States Attorney Melinda Haag said Wednesday.

Prosecutors said the scheme was spearheaded by a San Francisco loan officer who recruited straw buyers to obtain more than $10 million in mortgage and refinancing loans in exchange for cash.

Foakes said he would live in a Laguna Road home in mortgage documents submitted in 2006 and 2007, according to court filings. However he didn't move in and instead allowed the property to be used to grow pot.

The documents included false tax information, claims that Foakes made about $24,000 per month as owner of Foakes Concrete for the last 10 years and included forged bank statements with inflated balances and recurring deposits.

Foakes, who has a criminal history involving drugs, racketeering and weapons, pleaded guilty last October to money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit the crimes in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. He must pay $1,085,000 in restitution for his role in the scheme.

Added parole restrictions will limit his contact with other members of the Hells Angels when he's released.

He was among eight defendants indicted last September for conspiring to buy properties in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Healdsburg, Sonoma and San Francisco.